Reform Movement Relieved at Rejection of Health Care Repeal

"Jewish tradition demands that we work tirelessly until all people receive the care they need."

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2017

Contact: Max Rosenblum
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org

Press Release from the Religious Action Center

WASHINGTON – In response to the Senate’s vote to reject the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and wider Reform Movement:

The Senate vote early this morning to reject the harmful rollback of the Affordable Care Act is a victory for millions of Americans whose access to affordable, quality health care was at risk. We thank the 51 senators who voted against the final version of the bill and commend their commitment to the health of their constituents and all Americans.

We are proud of the thousands of Reform Jews who, alongside millions of other Americans, called on Congress to preserve access to health care for the most vulnerable. Reform clergy and leaders in Nevada, Ohio, West Virginia, and around the country raised their prophetic voices to proclaim that health care is a fundamental human right while sharing their stories to remind Congress of the humanity at the heart of this debate.

Jewish tradition demands that we work tirelessly until all people receive the care they need. Healing the sick is a communal responsibility--for medical professionals, for religious leaders, and indeed, for our government. We urge members of Congress and the Administration to work together in a bipartisan, transparent way to improve America’s health care system, so that all people may access the medical treatment they need.

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.